Chapter 6: Too Close To Resist

The room felt different after he left.

Quieter.

But heavier.

Lina stood still, her heart refusing to slow down.

She could still feel Adrian’s arm around her waist.

The warmth.

The tension.

The way he said “my wife.”

She shook her head slightly.

No.

This was exactly what she needed to avoid.

“This doesn’t change anything,” she said, keeping her voice steady.

Adrian didn’t respond immediately.

He simply walked back to his seat like nothing had happened.

Calm.

Controlled.

Untouchable.

“You already said that,” he replied.

Lina frowned.

“Then listen.”

His eyes lifted to hers.

Sharp.

Focused.

“I’m not one of your business deals,” she continued. “You don’t get to control me, defend me, and then act like it means nothing.”

Silence.

For a moment, she thought she had pushed too far.

Then—

Adrian stood.

Slowly.

Deliberately.

And started walking toward her.

Lina’s breath caught.

“Then what would you prefer?” he asked quietly.

Her heart began racing again.

“Distance,” she said quickly. “Clear boundaries.”

He stopped right in front of her.

Too close.

Her back instinctively pressed against the edge of the table.

“Distance?” he repeated.

His voice was softer now.

But more dangerous.

“Yes.”

He studied her face.

Like he was trying to read something she didn’t even understand herself.

Then—

He took another step closer.

Lina’s breath hitched.

“You’re shaking,” he said.

“I’m not.”

“You are.”

“I said I’m not—”

Her words cut off as his hand suddenly caught her wrist.

Not rough.

But firm.

Her pulse jumped under his touch.

“Let go,” she whispered.

But her voice wasn’t as strong as before.

Adrian didn’t move.

Instead, his thumb brushed lightly against her wrist.

Slow.

Intentional.

Her heart skipped.

“Your heart is racing,” he murmured.

Lina swallowed hard.

“That doesn’t mean anything.”

“Doesn’t it?”

His gaze dropped briefly to her lips.

Then back to her eyes.

And suddenly—

Everything felt too intense.

Too close.

Too real.

“You’re crossing the line,” she said, but her voice came out softer than she intended.

“And you’re still here,” he replied.

That hit harder than expected.

Because he was right.

She hadn’t pulled away.

Hadn’t pushed him.

Hadn’t stopped this.

Why?

She didn’t even know.

“Let go,” she said again, more quietly this time.

But instead—

He stepped closer.

Closing the small distance between them.

Her back hit the table fully now.

No escape.

Her breath came faster.

“Adrian—”

And then—

He kissed her.

Everything stopped.

Her mind.

Her thoughts.

Time itself.

For a second, she didn’t move.

Didn’t react.

Didn’t breathe.

It was soft.

Unexpected.

Nothing like the cold man she thought she knew.

But then reality crashed back.

And Lina pushed him away.

Hard.

“What are you doing?!” she gasped, her chest rising and falling rapidly.

Adrian stepped back easily.

Unbothered.

But his eyes—

His eyes were different.

Darker.

More intense.

“Testing something,” he said calmly.

Her heart pounded wildly.

“I’m not part of your experiments!”

“Then why didn’t you stop me?” he asked.

She froze.

“I—”

No answer came.

Because she didn’t have one.

And that scared her more than anything.

“This,” she said finally, pointing between them, “this is exactly why this marriage won’t work.”

A faint smirk appeared on his lips.

“Work?” he repeated. “You’re starting to sound like you want it to.”

Her breath caught.

“No,” she said quickly. “I don’t.”

“Good,” he said.

But his tone said otherwise.

Because the way he was looking at her now—

It didn’t feel like a deal anymore.

It felt like something else entirely.

Something dangerous.

Something neither of them had planned.

Lina stepped back, putting distance between them at last.

“This doesn’t happen again,” she said firmly.

Adrian tilted his head slightly.

“We’ll see.”

Her heart skipped.

Again.

And she hated it.